I've been very impressed with everything I've seen and heard about new West Virginia University head football coach, Bill Stewart, and his new staff of assistant coaches. I realize this doesn't neccessarily mean that West Virginia will play like they did in the Fiesta Bowl this season. But I think they will.
Mountaineer QB, Pat White is a winner, and I'm sure coming up short on a shot at the national championship really hurt. He will do everything in his power this season to make up for that shortcoming. He'll get the entire team behind him too, like the true leader he has become, and the nation's best offensive line will make sure he has an opportunity for redemption. After all, they share his disappointment from last season's bitter defeat at the hands of the hated Pitt Panthers.
The Mountaineers have a tough schedule this season. One of the toughest in the nation. But the toughest games for WVU are at home. I discount the Pitt game, since home field has historically had very little to do with the outcome of the Backyard Brawl. Going to UConn could present a problem, but due to timing only. They don't yet have the speed to keep up with the Mountaineers over the long haul. The only possible speed bump is Cincinnati, who I think will take 2nd in The BEast this year, and not USF.
Don't expect Villanova to pull an Appalachian on WVU. Even though 'nova has a good 1-AA team, they aren't in the Mountaineers class, and it will show.
ECU will be a good game for West Virginia to open the meat of their schedule with. This is exactly the preparation needed prior to the trip to Colorado. I figure the Pirates play WVU tough (as always), and come up short against White's, and the rest of the Mountaineers' assault.
Ditto for Colorado. After ECU, the Buffs present no real problem. ECU is the better team of the 2.
Marshall, Rutgers, and Syracuse in Morgantown should be no real trouble, and then comes Auburn...
The Auburn game should propel WVU as national championship front-runner in any discussions. Auburn is a good bet for winning the SEC Championship, but is just starting to run the spread offense. Even though this game is later in the season, and Auburn should have the system down pretty well, they are coming into Morgantown, where the playbook they are learning to run was written. And they don't have Pat White. WVU will win this game, and it will be by more than a touchdown. Pat White will want to make a statement, after listening to ESPN, and all the other sports announcers pick Auburn all week, explaining why they'll win, and the Mountaineers won't.
The Mountaineers would be ripe for an upset going to UConn after playing Auburn, but the extra time to prepare, and Pat White's determination keep them on the straight and narrow. UConn doesn't have the speed to keep up with WVU, and it will show.
The Cincinnati game is really the one that worries me the most. WVU should win this game, but it'll be close. If the Mountaineers do lose, I figure this is the game. But it ain't going to happen. Pat White won't let it.
On a side note, the Bearcats may have the best defense in The BEast (as I call the Big East... I like it, and I think it fits... after all, the rest of the nation thinks we play beastly... they must, since they always pick us last), and Kelly did wonders with Mauk last year. Who will he mold this season? I actually think UC has a very good chance to go into Norman and pull off as big an upset as Don Nehlen did early in his career at WVU.
The game at Louisville may be close. But I don't think so. The Cards are down a bit, and the Mountaineers want to send a message you can hear all the way up the river in Pittsburgh...
Revenge will factor into the Backyard Brawl, and home field isn't much of an advantage when Pitt and WVU bump heads. Home field has historically had very little to do with the outcome of the Backyard Brawl, and recent history isn't any different. The last time the home team won was in 2005, when WVU prevailed 45-13. This year the Mountaineers show the Wannstedt fans in the broadcast booths that he really is a mediocre coach, and that's all he'll ever be.
South Florida comes into Morgantown in December. That may not matter, the way the weather has been the last few years. But then again, you never know. Also, they've beaten WVU the last 2 years, so White's only victory against the Bulls came in his freshman year, and I'm sure he won't have a losing record against any team in The BEast when he graduates.
That adds up to 12 wins. I just hope WVU gets a chance to embarrass Ohio State in the BCS Championship game. You know the national media will, and Vegas, will promote the Buckeyes as prohibitive favorites. We'll serve 'em some Stew...
If losing 2 straight BCS Championship games in blowouts doesn't keep the Buckeyes out, getting blown out by WVU in the BCS Championship would probably do the trick.
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Mountaineer QB, Pat White is a winner, and I'm sure coming up short on a shot at the national championship really hurt. He will do everything in his power this season to make up for that shortcoming. He'll get the entire team behind him too, like the true leader he has become, and the nation's best offensive line will make sure he has an opportunity for redemption. After all, they share his disappointment from last season's bitter defeat at the hands of the hated Pitt Panthers.
The Mountaineers have a tough schedule this season. One of the toughest in the nation. But the toughest games for WVU are at home. I discount the Pitt game, since home field has historically had very little to do with the outcome of the Backyard Brawl. Going to UConn could present a problem, but due to timing only. They don't yet have the speed to keep up with the Mountaineers over the long haul. The only possible speed bump is Cincinnati, who I think will take 2nd in The BEast this year, and not USF.
Don't expect Villanova to pull an Appalachian on WVU. Even though 'nova has a good 1-AA team, they aren't in the Mountaineers class, and it will show.
ECU will be a good game for West Virginia to open the meat of their schedule with. This is exactly the preparation needed prior to the trip to Colorado. I figure the Pirates play WVU tough (as always), and come up short against White's, and the rest of the Mountaineers' assault.
Ditto for Colorado. After ECU, the Buffs present no real problem. ECU is the better team of the 2.
Marshall, Rutgers, and Syracuse in Morgantown should be no real trouble, and then comes Auburn...
The Auburn game should propel WVU as national championship front-runner in any discussions. Auburn is a good bet for winning the SEC Championship, but is just starting to run the spread offense. Even though this game is later in the season, and Auburn should have the system down pretty well, they are coming into Morgantown, where the playbook they are learning to run was written. And they don't have Pat White. WVU will win this game, and it will be by more than a touchdown. Pat White will want to make a statement, after listening to ESPN, and all the other sports announcers pick Auburn all week, explaining why they'll win, and the Mountaineers won't.
The Mountaineers would be ripe for an upset going to UConn after playing Auburn, but the extra time to prepare, and Pat White's determination keep them on the straight and narrow. UConn doesn't have the speed to keep up with WVU, and it will show.
The Cincinnati game is really the one that worries me the most. WVU should win this game, but it'll be close. If the Mountaineers do lose, I figure this is the game. But it ain't going to happen. Pat White won't let it.
On a side note, the Bearcats may have the best defense in The BEast (as I call the Big East... I like it, and I think it fits... after all, the rest of the nation thinks we play beastly... they must, since they always pick us last), and Kelly did wonders with Mauk last year. Who will he mold this season? I actually think UC has a very good chance to go into Norman and pull off as big an upset as Don Nehlen did early in his career at WVU.
The game at Louisville may be close. But I don't think so. The Cards are down a bit, and the Mountaineers want to send a message you can hear all the way up the river in Pittsburgh...
Revenge will factor into the Backyard Brawl, and home field isn't much of an advantage when Pitt and WVU bump heads. Home field has historically had very little to do with the outcome of the Backyard Brawl, and recent history isn't any different. The last time the home team won was in 2005, when WVU prevailed 45-13. This year the Mountaineers show the Wannstedt fans in the broadcast booths that he really is a mediocre coach, and that's all he'll ever be.
South Florida comes into Morgantown in December. That may not matter, the way the weather has been the last few years. But then again, you never know. Also, they've beaten WVU the last 2 years, so White's only victory against the Bulls came in his freshman year, and I'm sure he won't have a losing record against any team in The BEast when he graduates.
That adds up to 12 wins. I just hope WVU gets a chance to embarrass Ohio State in the BCS Championship game. You know the national media will, and Vegas, will promote the Buckeyes as prohibitive favorites. We'll serve 'em some Stew...
If losing 2 straight BCS Championship games in blowouts doesn't keep the Buckeyes out, getting blown out by WVU in the BCS Championship would probably do the trick.
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